Self reference is an aspect of interpersonal communication in which people refer to themselves. Psychologists are interested in the frequency of such references and in the type of self perception they reveal and the way in which such behavior affects the social perception of others. Narcissists for example may refer to themselves more than others, possibly in a grandiose and self serving way which may make others want to avoid them. Those with low self confidence may nor refer to themselves at all and people may think they are boring because they remain hidden.

Self-reference also occurs in literature when an author refers to his work in the context of the work itself.

"The Betrayal of Images" (1928-9) by René Magritte depicts a pipe along with the text, "This is not a pipe."

Self-reference is also employed in tautology and in licensed terminology. When a word defines itself (e.g., "Machine: any objects put together mechanically"), the result is a tautology. Such self-references can be quite complex, include full propositions rather than simple words, and produce arguments and terms that require license (accepting them as proof of themselves).